Inspiration and foundation

Care for your fellow human being. That is the essence of the spirituality of Saint Vincent (Vincentius à Paulo). This spirituality is one of the pillars of the Congregation Dochters van Mary en Joseph. The other foundations are the vows. If you commit yourself to the congregation, those vows will give your life direction. Just as with the (present) sisters, those vows determine what you stand for and which choices you will make in life. The vows call you to be faithful to Jesus Christ and His Church, to the community and to each other. They lead to an eternal alliance and to a life of devotion to God and humanity.

Sharing and being joined
This form of faithfulness includes an attitude characterized by a simple lifestyle, listening to the other and giving priority to the community. Sharing and being joined, those are the core values of the Congregation Dochters van Mary en Joseph. She who follows the vows will go up the mountain with Jesus to listen to God’s voice. Then she will descend the mountain with Jesus in order to be among the people, to listen to them and to support them.

The same vows, phrased differently
The sisters who entered a convent in the past also know these vows of faithfulness. They once took them as their guide for their own lives. They were phrased differently in those days, though, namely as the vows of poverty, obedience and chastity.

The vow of poverty
With the vow of poverty, they feel grateful for what is given to them. They are not poor, but they possess hardly anything of their own: everything they possess is on loan and is at everybody’s disposal.

The vow of obedience
With the vow of obedience, the sisters once promised to go through life with an open ear and with an eye for the needs of others. Furthermore, this vow includes they are open to God’s Will and Word and are willing to go wherever they might be sent.

The vow of chastity
The third vow, the vow of chastity (or celibacy), means the sisters radiate love to all and not to just one individual. They are willing to renounce marriage, to be fruitful for the Kingdom of God in their work and in their prayers and to fully dedicate themselves to the religious life and to others.

Hospitable, helpful, charitable and open
In whatever way the vows may be phrased and whatever commitment to the congregation you may enter into, these vows will find expression in the same ways in daily life: through hospitality, helpfulness, charity, an open mind for dissenters and an eye for the needs of others. Besides you work on peace in your environment and, if possible, in the world. You will also remain in the mission for the rest of your life in the service of God and humanity, without making a distinction between individuals, nationalities or religions.

• Engels: Inspiration and foundation